A group of 20 Ministers and 15 Deputy Ministers have requested the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs to give official residences for them, as allowance of Rs. 50,000 was not enough for rent for a spacious house in Colombo.
Although an allowance of Rupees 50,000 is given as rent charges, this amount is not enough to obtain spacious houses in Colombo, Ministers say.
They have also stated that since most of their time had to be spent in Colombo on official duties it was essential and convenient for them to have a residence in Colombo.
When asked about this matter the Minister of Public Administration W.D.J. Seneviratne said that the Ministry has received request for official residences from 35 Ministers.
To provide these Ministers with required residences actions were now being taken to shift the government officers now housed in official government houses, he said.
Accordingly prompt solution was expected for this problem, said the Minister.